Task force for 2-yr. moratorium on new medical colleges

By R.Vijaya Kumar

BANGALORE, NOV. 2. The Task Force on Health chaired by Dr. H.Sudarshan has urged the need for a two-year moratorium on establishing medical, dental and nursing colleges in the State.

It has suggested the need to also extend the moratorium on starting pharmacy and physiotheraphy institutions, as well as ayurvedic, unani and homoeopathy colleges for a similar period.

In an extensive analysis of the healthcare system in Karnataka, the Task Force Report has stressed the need for human resource development for health in the State. According to the report, a distorted and disturbing situation prevails in the realm of human resource development for health. There has been too much emphasis on "production of medical doctors" and a "mushrooming of medical and dental colleges" in the State. This situation is also reflected in the large number of colleges for other systems of medicine and in disciplines such as nursing, pharmacy and physiotherapy.

"The existing health science institutions have been churning out graduate physicians and other professionals, whose number is much more than what is actually needed. Should we sacrifice the quality of education just to satisfy a few aspiring groups?", the report has queried.

According to the report, out of 172 medical colleges and 123 dental colleges in the country, 23 medical and 38 dental colleges are in Karnataka alone. Yet, approximately 30 to 40 per cent of the shortage in teachers has been observed in all the health science institutions in the State, resulting in substandard professional education in healthcare.

While calling for a moratorium on starting new medical colleges in the State, the report makes an exception in the case of the "underserved districts in Karnataka". There is a "clustering" of medical and other teaching institutions in certain cities and districts, while some districts do not have any. In the existing districts there is also an urgent need to "consolidate" such institutions by building capacity at the district level and developing a better system of professional health education. The reports says there is a need to urgently repair buildings of the colleges, hospitals, hostels, equipment and vehicles in "government teaching institutions". All equipment should be maintained in good working condition.

Stressing the need for reforms in medical education and teaching, the report says that the selection of students (undergraduate and postgraduate), should not be based only on the ranking in the entrance examination. Stress should be on the aptitude of the candidate. The selection should be based on the candidate's commitment to social objectives and the technical challenges of education in the State. The output of such institutions should be need-based.

Further, education should be competence and value-based, and should nurture human resources holistically in terms of knowledge, skills, values, attitudes and social commitment.

According to the report, commercialisation and corruption are two important issues that need to be tackled firmly. Privatisation has come to stay, and this fact needs to be accepted. Many private institutions have developed good infrastructure, and they provide medical education of a high standard.

Corruption in medical education has raised its head at various levels, and a mechanism should be evolved to root out this cancerous growth, as otherwise it will erode the credibility of the healthcare system in the State. The report stresses that the tragedy is that corruption is visible at every stage, including that of examinations at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Severe indictment and even removal of examiners who indulge in malpractices is necessary.

The task force report, while calling for extra vigilance at the time of examinations, has appreciated the efforts of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) in establishing a commission to curb such professional misconduct. "The hands of the university should be strengthened to put an end to corruption," the report has stressed.

Regarding family medicine, the report regrets that, at present, it does not find a place in undergraduate training.

In respect of research, the report says that it is a neglected area in health professionals education. The universities and teaching institutions should frame a policy statement to encourage and support research at these levels. Research should be a prerequisite for promotional opportunities of the faculty.

While research is essential in various areas, it is particularly important to solve problems of public health and Karnataka's specific health problems such as the Kyasanur Forest Disease and the Handigodu Syndrome.

Some other recommendations of the task force include: increasing training of auxiliary nurse midwives from the present 18 months to 24 months; making use of Information Technology for continuing education of all health and allied professionals and paramedical personnel; and upgrading the State Institute of Health and Family Welfare to make it an institute of excellence.

As on 2000, the number of colleges affiliated to the RGUHS was 42 medical colleges, of which 22 are postgraduate with a strength of 3,350, including 1,249 postgraduates. There are also 50 dental colleges, including 12 postgraduate institution, with a student strength of 2,482, including 305 PGs.

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Section  : Southern States
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